Since the 19th Century, South Australia has had a global reputation for electoral innovation and inclusive elections, and the truth in political advertising laws it adopted in the 1980s are a model for Australia-wide reform. Genuine electoral reform in this state would improve democracy across the nation.

In a consultation draft circulated for comment earlier this year, the South Australian Government proposed dramatic changes to election funding in the state:

• An extra $14 million in public funding for politicians per electoral cycle, approximately 80% of which would go to the major parties and only about 1% to new entrants.
• Banning political donations to existing political parties and sitting members of parliament.
• Lowering spending caps and making them mandatory for political candidates.
• Leaving third parties, like corporations and lobby groups, unlimited in what they can spend on election campaigning.

The Australia Institute’s submission to the consultation warns that the changes proposed in the exposure draft risk significant, even if unintended, consequences by locking out minor parties and independent candidates, while providing increased public funding to the Labor and Liberal parties.

Other times legislation has been rushed, there have been serious consequences.

In 2021, the Parliament of South Australia rushed through sweeping changes to the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Those changes rendered the anti-corruption watchdog “toothless” and contributed to the resignation of Commissioner the Hon Ann Vanstone KC.

Like the changes to ICAC, changes to electoral funding are complex and may have unintended and serious consequences. They should be subject to significant scrutiny and not be rushed through the parliament.